The challenges posed by COVID-19 are global in scope and unprecedented in scale. In 2020, the global community suffered a severe setback in the progress made towards reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Millions of people lost their incomes, and the SDGs financing gap, already significant before the pandemic, may increase by 70%. The challenges related to COVID-19 are numerous, the resources available to both developed and developing countries are stressed, and financing for sustainable development is on edge. The pandemic’s consequences substantially altered life throughout the world, and thus focus the priorities of the development co-operation agenda and discussions towards more global solidarity. More vital and strategic partnerships are crucial to overcoming this crisis in an effective, just, and equal way. Against this background, the present brief has two main objectives: to analyse the impacts of the pandemic on existing triangular co-operation programmes; and to explore how partners can leverage triangular co-operation to catalyse resources and efforts tackling the development challenges triggered by COVID-19, during and after the pandemic.

Also available in Spanish.